Page 30 - Personal Finance

US to issue 64,716 additional H-2B visas for FY 2025: Who is eligible?

The H-2B visa caters to temporary non-agricultural roles, particularly in fields such as construction, forestry, and landscaping

85% of credit card users in India shop online during festive season: Survey

The surge in online shopping is linked to the range of discounts and special offers provided by e-commerce firms during the festive sales

Sector and thematic funds: Stay invested if you can assess prospects

Sector and thematic funds allocate at least 80% of their portfolios to stocks within a specific sector or theme

UK student visa applications drop by 16%: What's behind the decline?

The decline in student visa applications coincides with the introduction of new immigration rules in January 2024

Germany raises visas by 10% for foreigners, adopts Canada's points system

Germany will issue 200,000 professional visas will be issued in 2024

ITR 2024: Declare foreign assets by Dec 31 or face Rs 10 lakh fine

The deadline to submit revised or belated ITRs is December 31

Liquid funds: Go for fund with large AUM, high credit quality and low cost

These funds invest in money market instruments maturing in less than 91 days, including treasury bills, commercial papers issued by corporates, and certificates of deposits issued by banks

Studying abroad; collecting vinyl records: Top personal finance stories

This week we write about how to build a corpus for your children's foreign education and how LP records are back in the groove

Bitcoin rally: Book partial profits, full exit unnecessary unless needed

Institutional interest in cryptocurrencies is up, as is evident from the increased volumes in Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

Best fixed deposit schemes for senior citizens explained in one table

Terms and conditions of more than a dozen lenders put together for your convenience

How changing your credit card billing cycle can help in better cash flow

A billing cycle that aligns with your financial inflow can simplify budgeting. You can plan your expenses more effectively when you know exactly when your credit card payments will be due

Child insurance: Waiver of premium can help secure education goal

These plans generally mature when the child reaches 18 to 25 years. Thus, their payouts are aligned to milestones like higher education and marriage

Sweden cuts EU Blue Card processing time to 30 days for skilled workers

Under the new rules, the processing time for the EU Blue Card has been cut from 90 days to just 30 days for highly qualified applicants

Possible H-1B visa restrictions under Trump: A win-lose situation for India

The H-1B visa programme enables US employers to bring in skilled foreign professionals for specialised roles that require particular qualifications

US December 2024 visa bulletin: Small gains for Indians in EB-2, EB-3

The US December 2024 Visa Bulletin shows minor advances in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for Indian applicants, while family-sponsored visa categories remain unchanged across all regions

Canada hikes temp worker wages by 20%: Know latest rates across provinces

The LMIA, a necessary step for employers hiring foreign talent, uses wage thresholds to classify jobs into high-wage and low-wage streams

Kolkata's US visa wait hits 500 days: What Indian travellers need to know

To manage the rising demand for US travel, the United States will be adding one million visa appointment slots in 2025

Non-disclosure of foreign property invites Rs 10 lakh penalty per year

Rental income from a foreign property is taxed under the head "Income from House Property". This income must be declared in the Foreign Source Income schedule of the ITR

Investment opportunities in India's booming wedding market

Interestingly, the industry also offers investment opportunities. And like the marriage, experts advice long-term vow

Why should you check if your EPF interest is credited on a regular basis

Recent tax rules state that interest on contributions exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh per year is taxable, so keeping an eye on credited interest helps you plan your tax liabilities and ensure accurate filings